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European stocks rose on Friday as Marks & Spencer lifted the retail sector up, but the Stoxx 600 nonetheless posted its worst weekly performance since February amid signs of slowing economic growth and increasing coronavirus cases .
The European Stoxx 600 rose 0.3%, with the retail sector advancing 1.2%.
Shares of UK retailer Marks & Spencer jumped 14.1%, topping the Stoxx 600, as it raised its profit forecast after a surge in food demand and an increase in online clothing orders, indicating that its latest recovery plan began to take effect.
The FTSE 100 in London rose 0.4%, while the German DAX rose 0.3%. Frankfurt shares rebounded from falling earlier in the session after data showed a larger-than-expected jump in producer prices in July.
The mining index closed unchanged, making the European sector the worst performer this week.
Signs of a slowing global economic recovery and an increase in cases of the delta strain of the coronavirus have pushed the European Stoxx 600 to record highs this week.
The index fell only 1.5% on Thursday, following the drop in global equities on indications that the US Federal Reserve could begin to curb monetary easing later in the year.
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